Compost fertilizer training output now tested in Kalinga
by Larry Lopez
TABUK, Kalinga (23 October) -- The output from the bio-organic fertilizer making training given to 35 farmers last August here is now ready for field testing.
Sunshine Sacki of the Department of Trade and Industry -Kalinga, who is one of the trainors, said the product is now being tested by agriculture students from the Kalinga Apayao State College (KASC).
The bio-organic fertilizer tested is a product of a 45 day composting using 500 kilos of saw dust, chicken manure and inoculants as raw materials. Sacki, an Agricultural Engineer, said the average result from composting is 60% of the compost materials.
The test made by KASC students would later show the effect of the compost fertilizer which will be tested with other commercial bio-organic fertilizers on various crops.
It was noted that demand for bio-organic input in the province gets high after it has been proven to be effective in rice, corn, vegetables, coffee and other crops.
Hybrid rice farmers claim at least 10% cut in their input expense with bio-organic fertilizer, as compared to the high-cost inorganic fertilizers.
The average requirement per hectare for urea inorganic fertilizer is eight bags. With the use of 10 bags bio-organic input, urea requirement is cut down to four bags. Urea costs P880/bag, while organic fertilizer sells at P300/bag.
Government is now advocating use of bio-organic fertilizers for crops, considering their health effects aside from the big savings for farmers. Along this line, trainings on composting are given by concerned agencies. (PIA-Kalinga) [top]
